Wireless sensor network for monitoring one or more selected environmental characteristics

ABSTRACT

A wireless sensor network for monitoring one or more selected environmental characteristics. Multiple wireless signal transceivers, disposed in respective portions of a selected environment, respond to one or more wireless beacon signals by selectively collecting, processing and storing data corresponding to one or more characteristics of such portions of the selected environment, and by selectively transmitting respective wireless response signals containing selected portions of such data. Alternatively, multiple wireless signal transceivers, disposed in respective sub-networks in portions of a selected environment, collect and convey data corresponding to one or more characteristics of such selected environment portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for monitoring environmentalcharacteristics, and in particular, to a network of devices formonitoring and reporting on environmental characteristics.

As various forms of sensors have been developed to become smaller, moreefficient and less expensive, it has become increasingly practical todevelop and deploy systems for monitoring and reporting on variousenvironmental conditions or characteristics. Such conditions orcharacteristics include, among others and without limitation, humidity,pressure, electromagnetic radiation, light, acceleration, variouschemical concentrations, and temperature. Indeed, the range or types ofconditions or characteristics that can be monitored are limited only bythe sensors used to provide sufficient and suitable signals for thecircuitry needed for processing the data represented by such signals.

For example, many products, particularly food products, require acontrolled environment during some or all stages of production, shippingand handling, and sales. Particularly for food products, temperature isoften the most critical environmental characteristic to be maintained.Food products must often be shipped for long distances to their finaldestination, with trips often taking several days, thereby requiringthat the food be frozen or refrigerated during such trips. The freshnessand safety of the food product depends upon proper maintenance of thetemperature. This is particularly true for foods such as meat, fish andpoultry, where even relatively small temperature excursions outside thedesired range, for even only short durations, can be dangerous due tospoilage.

It is well known in the art for distributors of frozen and refrigeratedfoods to place temperature-sensitive elements (e.g., on adhesive strips)in or on the containers in which the food products are shipped. Suchdevices will indicate whether the shipping container has been allowed torise above a threshold temperature at any point during the trip.However, nearly indicating whether such temperature threshold has beencrossed, without any further information about the duration or timing ofsuch temperature change is generally not sufficient to fully assess theeffects of such temperature changes.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a system for monitoring andreporting on one or more characteristics, such as temperature, within adefined environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A wireless sensor network for monitoring one or more selectedenvironmental characteristics. Multiple wireless signal transceivers,disposed in respective portions of a selected environment, respond toone or more wireless beacon signals by selectively collecting,processing and storing data corresponding to one or more characteristicsof such portions of the selected environment, and by selectivelytransmitting respective wireless response signals containing selectedportions of such data. Alternatively, multiple wireless signaltransceivers, disposed in respective sub-networks in portions of aselected environment, collect and convey data corresponding to one ormore characteristics of such selected environment portions.

In accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention, awireless sensor network for monitoring one or more selectedenvironmental characteristics includes a plurality of wireless signaltransceivers, each of which is disposed within a respective portion of aselected environment, and responsive to one or more wireless beaconsignals at least in part by selectively transmitting one or morerespective wireless response signals. Each wireless signal transceiverincludes at least one signal transducer, processing and controlcircuitry, memory circuitry and data collection circuitry. The at leastone signal transducer is to convert the one or more wireless beaconsignals at least in part to one or more corresponding incomingelectrical signals, and to convert one or more outgoing electricalsignals at least in part to the one or more wireless response signals.The processing and control circuitry is coupled to the at least onesignal transducer and responsive to the one or more incoming electricalsignals by selectively processing at least a portion of the one or moreincoming electrical signals and at least a selected portion of aplurality of data, providing a plurality of control signals, andproviding the one or more outgoing electrical signals. The memorycircuitry is coupled to at least the processing and control circuitryand responsive to at least a first portion of the plurality of controlsignals by storing at least a first portion of the plurality of data andproviding at least a second portion of the plurality of data. The datacollection circuitry is coupled to at least the processing and controlcircuitry and responsive to at least a second portion of the pluralityof control signals and at least one sensor signal corresponding to oneor more characteristics of the respective portion of the selectedenvironment by providing the first portion of the plurality of data. Theone or more outgoing electrical signals selectively correspond to atleast one of the one or more characteristics.

In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimedinvention, an ad hoc wireless sensor data network for monitoring one ormore selected environmental characteristics includes one or more masterwireless signal transceivers and a plurality of ad hoc wireless signaltransceivers. The one or more master wireless signal transceiverscommunicate via a plurality of wireless signals. The plurality of ad hocwireless signal transceivers, each of which is disposed within arespective portion of a selected environment, communicates with the oneor more master wireless signal transceivers via the plurality ofwireless signals. The plurality of ad hoc wireless signal transceivers,in at least partial response to a plurality of respective sensorsignals, transmits a plurality of respective ad hoc wireless signals asat least a portion of the plurality of wireless signals and selectivelycorresponding to at least one of one or more characteristics of theselected environment. The one or more master wireless signaltransceivers, responsive to reception of the plurality of respective adhoc wireless signals, determine a location of at least one of theplurality of ad hoc wireless signal transceivers in a respective spatialrelation to at least one of the one or more master wireless signaltransceivers.

In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimedinvention, an ad hoc wireless sensor data network for monitoring one ormore selected environmental characteristics includes one or more masterwireless signal transceivers and a plurality of ad hoc wireless signaltransceivers. The one or more master wireless signal transceiverscommunicate via a plurality of wireless signals. The plurality of ad hocwireless signal transceivers, each of which is disposed within arespective portion of a selected environment, communicates with the oneor more master wireless signal transceivers via the plurality ofwireless signals. The plurality of ad hoc wireless signal transceivers,in at least partial response to a plurality of respective sensorsignals, transmits a plurality of respective ad hoc wireless signals asat least a portion of the plurality of wireless signals and selectivelycorresponding to at least one of the one or more characteristics. Theone or more master wireless signal transceivers, responsive to receptionof the plurality of respective ad hoc wireless signals, determine alocation of at least one of the plurality of ad hoc wireless signaltransceivers in a respective spatial relation to at least another one ofthe plurality of ad hoc wireless signal transceivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates deployment of a sensor network for reporting onselected environmental characteristics in accordance with one embodimentof the presently claimed invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified functional block diagram of a sensor assembly foruse in the sensor network of FIG. 1 in accordance with anotherembodiment of the presently claimed invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation of a sensor assembly, such as thatdepicted in FIG. 2, in accordance with another embodiment of thepresently acclaimed invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates deployments of remote sensors as parts of multiplesub-networks in accordance with another embodiment of the presentlyclaimed invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates location awareness and spatial error correctionprovided with a sensor network in accordance with the presently claimedinvention.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C depict alternative techniques for signal diversitycombining suitable for use in sensor networks according to the presentlyclaimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of example embodiments of thepresently claimed invention with references to the accompanyingdrawings. Such description is intended to be illustrative and notlimiting with respect to the scope of the present invention. Suchembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one of ordinaryskill in the art to practice the subject invention, and it will beunderstood that other embodiments may be practiced with some variationswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the subject invention.

Throughout the present disclosure, absent a clear indication to thecontrary from the context, it will be understood that individual circuitelements as described may be singular or plural in number. For example,the terms “circuit” and “circuitry” may include either a singlecomponent or a plurality of components, which are either active and/orpassive and are connected or otherwise coupled together (e.g., as one ormore integrated circuit chips) to provide the described function.Additionally, the term “signal” may refer to one or more currents, oneor more voltages, or a data signal. Within the drawings, like or relatedelements will have like or related alpha, numeric or alphanumericdesignators. Further, while the present invention has been discussed inthe context of implementations using discrete electronic circuitry(preferably in the form of one or more integrated circuit chips), thefunctions of any part of such circuitry may alternatively be implementedusing one or more appropriately programmed processors, depending uponthe signal frequencies or data rates to be processed.

Referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentlyacclaimed invention, a sensor network is established within apredetermined environment 1 for monitoring one or more environmentalcharacteristics (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure, etc., asdiscussed above). Within this environment 1, a number of remote sensorassemblies 12 are disposed for sensing respective portions of theenvironment 1. For example, one of the remote sensor assemblies 12 a canbe used to sense, and ultimately report on, an environmentalcharacteristic within its immediate vicinity, such as temperature.Remote from the sensor network is a master terminal or controller 10that sends out one or more wireless signals 11 for interacting, e.g.,controlling or triggering, one or more of the sensor assemblies 12within the sensor network. For example, the master 10 can send out oneor more wireless signals 11 (e.g., radio frequency (RF), microwave,infrared or optical) which serves as a beacon or triggering signal inresponse to which the remote sensor assemblies 12 transmit respectivewireless signals 13 containing information about the environmentalcharacteristics being sensed.

As should be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, thesensor network and master terminal which interacts or otherwise controlsthe sensor network can be implemented in many of a number of well knownways. As noted above, the wireless signal transmitted and received bythe master and remote sensors are preferably, though not necessarilylimited to, wireless signals which are not line-of-sight, such as RF ormicrowave signals. Further, such a network can be in the form of amaster-slave network in which the master originates and controls allcommunication with the respective remote sensor assemblies, oralternatively, can be what is sometimes referred to as a mesh network inwhich the remote sensor assemblies may communicate with each otherindependently from or under the supervision of the master.

Referring to FIG. 2, a remote sensor assembly 12 in accordance with oneembodiment of the presently claimed invention includes a signaltransducer 22. This signal transducer 22 preferably includes one or moresignal transducing elements appropriate for converting the incomingwireless signal 11 to an incoming electrical signal and to convert anoutgoing electrical signal to the outgoing wireless signal 13. Forexample, for RF signals communications, such a signal transducer 22would include one or more antenna elements which are well known in theart and can be implemented in many well known ways. In the case ofoptical signal communications, such signal transducer 22 would includean optical sensor for sensing and converting the incoming optical signal11 to an incoming electrical signal, and an optical signal emitter forconverting the outgoing electrical signal to the outgoing optical signal13.

The sensor assembly 12 also includes a power source 24, processing andcontrol circuitry 26, memory circuitry 28 and sensor interface circuitry30, all interconnected substantially as shown. Additionally, a sensor 32may also be included. Typically, all such elements are integrated orotherwise packaged in some form of unitary design in accordance withwell known electronic circuit packaging techniques.

As noted above, the incoming wireless signal 11, e.g., a beacon signal,is received by the signal transducer 22 and converted to appropriatebaseband control or data signals for communication via a signalinterface 23 to the processing and control circuitry 26 (e.g., amicroprocessor or microcontroller). For example, in the case of RFcommunications, the incoming RF signal 11 is initially converted to anRF signal which is then processed in accordance with well known RFsignal processing techniques to produce the corresponding basebandcontrol or data signals. Such signal transducer circuitry is well knownin the art and can be implemented in many forms in accordance with wellknown design techniques. In response to these received signals, theprocessing and control circuitry 26, via an interface bus 27, sendscontrol signals to and accesses data from the memory 28 and sensorinterface 30 (discussed in more detail below). The processing andcontrol circuitry 26 processes the data it receives from the memory 28or interface 30 and provides the appropriate response signals via theinterface 23 to the signal transducer 22 for transmission as thewireless response signal 13.

The power source 24 provides power to the signal transducer circuitry22, as well as to the processing and control circuitry 26, memory 28 andsensor interface 30 (e.g., via a power bus 25) during operation of thesensor assembly 12. Preferably, the memory 28 is nonvolatile, therebyavoiding need for electrical power when the sensor assembly 12 is notresponding to an incoming control or query signal 11 from the master 10.The power source 24 can be either a battery or some form of powerconversion circuitry, many types of which are well known in the art. Forexample, if the sensor assembly 12 is an “active” assembly, the powersource 24 can be a battery, thereby making power available at all timesas needed. However, if the sensor assembly 12 is “passive”, the powersource 24 can be a power conversion circuit which converts (or“harvests”) at least a portion of the incoming signal 11 energy to DCpower for use by the signal transducer circuitry 22, processing andcontrol circuitry 26, memory 28 and interface 30.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it should be noted that the sensor network ofthe presently claimed invention can be operated or controlled in anumber of ways. For example, as noted above, the control or query signal11 from the master 10 can be a beacon signal which is intended forreception by all of the remote sensor assemblies 12. Following receiptof such a beacon signal 11, each remote sensor assembly 12 can respondin one or more of a number of ways. For example, responsive to thecontrol or query signal 11, a remote sensor assembly 12 can prompt itsassociated sensor 32 (FIG. 2) via a control signal 31 to retrieve sensordata 33, which is then selectively stored in the memory 28 orimmediately provided to the processing and control circuitry 26. Theprocessing and control circuitry 26 can then process such sensor data,either immediately, or later after its retrieval from the memory 28, andprovide it for transmission via the signal transducer circuitry 22.Alternatively, the sensor assembly 12 can respond to successive query orcontrol signals 11 by accessing and storing successive values of sensordata within the memory 28 for later retrieval and processing followingreception of a later query or control signal 11 specifically requestingsuch data.

As another alternative, following reception of one or more control orquery signals 11, and collection, storage and processing of sensor data,each sensor assembly 12 can then begin reporting back to the master 10by transmitting its respective wireless response signal 13. Suchresponsive signal transmissions can be initiated in a predeterminedsequence according to a hierarchy or prioritization of the varioussensor assemblies 12 so as to avoid signal “collisions”. Furtheralternatively, each respective sensor assembly 12 can transmit itswireless response signal 13 at a different frequency.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method of operating a sensor assembly 12, such asthat depicted in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresently claimed invention includes the following. Initially, thedevice is in an idle or off state 100. At some point 102 in time, thequery or control signal 111 is received, following which activation 104of the sensor assembly 12 occurs. It is during this activation stage 104that the signal transducer 22 converts the incoming signal 11 toappropriate baseband control or data signals for controlling or furtherprocessing within the sensor assembly 12. Additionally, for a passivesensor assembly 12, it is during this activation stage 104 that at leasta portion of the incoming signal 111 is used for generating DC power forthe various stages of the sensor assembly 12.

At the next stage 106, the sensor data (e.g., retrieved by theprocessing and control circuitry 26 via the interface 30 and signal/databus 27) is tested or compared against a threshold value or range ofvalues for compliance. For example, in the case of temperature, thecurrent temperature, as determined by a temperature sensor, would becompared to a range of values as defined by minimum and maximumtemperature values for compliance.

If the measured parameter is compliant (e.g., within the desired rangeof values, or not of a value which transcends a threshold value), atable or log of parameter values is updated (e.g., within the memory 28)at stage 108. If the measured parameter is not compliant, it is thencompared or tested at stage 110 against the table or log of parametervalues (e.g., stored within the memory 28). At stage 112, it isdetermined whether the present parameter value differs by an excessiveamount from one or more of the values stored within the data log. Ifsuch difference is excessive, a notice or alarm signal is generated atstage 114 for transmission back to the master 10.

Following stages 108, 112 (if the difference is not excessive) and 114,operation returns to the idle or off state 100.

Referring to FIG. 4, in accordance with another embodiment of thepresently claimed invention, multiple remote sensor assemblies can bedeployed in the form of multiple sub-networks 200 a, 200 b, 200 c whichare associated with respective portions 201 a, 201 b, 201 c of theselected environment. In this example, one environment portion 201 a hasa sub-network 200 a of N remote sensor assemblies 212 a, . . . , 212 n,while two additional environment portions 201 b, 201 c have sub-networks200 b, 200 c with each having two remote sensor assemblies 222 a, 222 b,232 a, 232 b. In the first sub-network 200 a, one or more master signaltransceivers 210 a, 210 b, transmit their wireless signals 211 aa, 211ba intended for reception by the remote sensor assemblies 212 a . . . ,212 n. In turn, the remote sensor assemblies 212 a, . . . , 212 ntransmit their respective response signals 213 a, . . . , 213 n forreception by the master transceivers 210 a, 210 b. The othersub-networks 200 b, 200 c operate in a similar manner.

In turn, these sub-networks 200 a, 200 b, 200 c can together form alarger sub-network for which their respective master signal transceivers210 a, 210 b, 220, 230 now serve as “remote transceivers” with respectto a set of higher level transceivers 302 a, 302 b. Accordingly, thelower level master transceivers 210 a, 210 b, 220, 230 transmit signals211 ab, 211 bb, 221 b, 231 b for reception by the higher leveltransceivers 302 a, 302 b. These transceivers 302 a, 302 b, in turncommunicate with the lower level transceivers 210 a, 210 b, 220, 230with their own signals 303 aa, 303 ba. At this level, either the higherlevel transceivers 302 a, 302 b or the lower level transceivers 210 a,210 b, 220, 230 can initiate communications or act in a responsivemanner. Of course, the higher level transceivers 302 a, 302 b can alsocommunicate further via additional transmission signals 303 ab, 303 bbwith other devices or systems. Accordingly, multiple sub-networks can benested as part of ever larger networks, depending upon the application.

One example of such a networked system can be where each of the lowestsub-networks 200 a, 200 b, 200 c corresponds to a container in which theremote sensor assemblies 212 a, . . . , 212 n, 222 a, 222 b, 232 a, 232b are disposed or otherwise contained within their respectiveenvironments 201 a, 201 b, 201 c. As discussed above, these remotesensor assemblies 212 a, . . . , 212 n, 222 a, 22 b, 232 a, 232 bmonitor their respective portions of these environments 201 a, 201 b,201 c, and convey data corresponding to the one or more characteristicsfor which they are responsible for monitoring. For example, the remotesensor assemblies 212 a, . . . , 212 n, 222 a, 22 b, 232 a, 232 b mightcollect visual image data which, after all sensor data has been combinedand properly processed, provides visual profiles of the variousenvironment portions 201 a, 201 b, 201 c. In turn, these profiles can befurther combined to form a larger, or composite, profile for the overallenvironment. Alternatively, each of the remote sensor assemblies canmonitor its ambient temperature such that when all such temperature datais collected and processed, e.g., via the master signal transceivers 210a, 210 b, 220, 230, temperature gradients can be determined for thevarious environment portions 201 a, 201 b, 201 c.

Referring to FIG. 5, such sensor networks are often in the from of adhoc networks, meaning that deployment or activation of the variousremote sensor assemblies may take place at any time and under various,and even variable, conditions. As a result, errors or other forms ofdiscrepancies may arise in the sensor data or the manner in which thesensor data is initially transmitted or later conveyed. For example,particularly in the case of remote sensor assemblies responsible forcollecting image data, the actual spatial location of each remote sensorassemble can be critical so as to ensure that the overall image profilecan be properly reconstructed based on the transmitted image data. Asshown, a portion 201 d of the environment for which remote sensorassemblies are responsible for collecting data may be subdivided intomultiple cells 201 da. In one of these cells, the remote sensor assemblymay be disposed in such a way or may be transmitting its signals in away that its apparent spatial location 203, e.g., relative to the mastersignal transceivers 240 a, 240 b, may be shifted from or appear to be ina location other than the expected spatial location 205.

Accordingly, it may be important that the data processing by the mastertransceivers 240 a, 240 b be able to account for this. This is often asimple matter when multiple master signal transceivers 240 a, 240 b areinvolved, since they can take advantage of signal triangulation wherebythe signal transmitted by the remote sensor assembly, which travels overtwo distinct signal paths 241 a, 241 b to reach the master transceivers240 a, 240 b, can be analyzed or processed, with the respective resultsbeing compared to determine the spatial location of the remote sensorassembly, or the location within the environment (e.g., the specificcell 201 da) which the responsible remote sensor assembly is monitoring.For example, one common technique involves analysis of the phases of theremote sensor assembly signal being received at each of the mastersignal transceivers 240 a, 240 b to determine the lengths or differencein the lengths of the signal paths 241 a, 241 b, following which thelocation of the remote sensor assembly from which the signal originatescan be determined.

Referring to FIG. 6A, one technique for improving signal reception anddifferentiation involves the use of space diversity with respect to theantennas. For example, a set of N antennas 310 a, . . . , 310 n can beused to convert the incoming wireless signals to electrical signals 311a, . . . , 311 n which are processed (e.g., amplified and filtered) indownstream circuitry 312 a, . . . , 312 n, with the resulting signals313 a, . . . , 313 n being added in a signal combiner 314 (e.g., asignal summer) to produce the final receive signal 315.

Referring to FIG. 6B, an alternative technique is the use of bothspatial and frequency diversity. With this technique, the processedincoming signals 313 a, . . . , 313 n are further processed in circuitry316 a, . . . , 316 n operating over multiple frequency ranges f1, f2, .. . , fn, with the resulting processed signals being combined in signalcombiners 318 a, . . . , 318 n to produce intermediate signals 319 a, .. . , 319 n which are further combined in another signal combiner 314 toproduce the final receive signal 315.

More detailed discussions of wireless signal transceivers using signaldiversity combining techniques can be found in: U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/818,061, filed Apr. 5, 2004, for an “Apparatus ForPre-Scaling Data Packets With Multiple Signal Gain Coefficients In ASIMO/MISO Transceiver For Communication With A SISO Transceiver”; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/818,147, filed Apr. 5, 2004, for an“Apparatus For Generating Signal Gain Coefficients For A SIMO/MISOTransceiver For Providing Packet Data Communication With A SISOTransceiver”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/818,151, filedApr. 5, 2004, for a “SIMO/MISO Transceiver For Providing Packet DataCommunication With SISO Transceiver”. The disclosure of each of thesedocuments is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 6C, a further alternative diversity signal combiningtechnique involves the use of an adaptive antenna array. In thistechnique, the processed received signals 313 a, 313 b, . . . , 313 nare processed according to well-known techniques in an adaptive combiner320, whereby the various signals 313 a, 313 b, . . . , 313 n areselectively weighted (e.g., selectively amplified, attenuated orfiltered) and combined to produce the final receive signal 321 forfurther downstream processing.

Various other modifications and alternations in the structure and methodof operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.Although the invention has been described in connection with specificpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention asclaimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It isintended that the following claims define the scope of the presentinvention and that structures and methods within the scope of theseclaims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

1. An apparatus including a wireless sensor network for monitoring oneor more selected environmental characteristics, comprising: a pluralityof wireless signal transceivers, each of which is disposed within arespective portion of a selected environment, responsive to one or morewireless beacon signals at least in part by selectively transmitting oneor more respective wireless response signals, and includes at least onesignal transducer to convert said one or more wireless beacon signals atleast in part to one or more corresponding incoming electrical signals,and to convert one or more outgoing electrical signals at least in partto said one or more wireless response signals; processing and controlcircuitry coupled to said at least one signal transducer and responsiveto said one or more incoming electrical signals by selectivelyprocessing at least a portion of said one or more incoming electricalsignals and at least a selected portion of a plurality of data,providing a plurality of control signals, and providing said one or moreoutgoing electrical signals; memory circuitry coupled to at least saidprocessing and control circuitry and responsive to at least a firstportion of said plurality of control signals by storing at least a firstportion of said plurality of data and providing at least a secondportion of said plurality of data; and data collection circuitry coupledto at least said processing and control circuitry and responsive to atleast a second portion of said plurality of control signals and at leastone sensor signal corresponding to one or more characteristics of saidrespective portion of said selected environment by providing said firstportion of said plurality of data; wherein said one or more outgoingelectrical signals selectively correspond to at least one of said one ormore characteristics; and wherein said processing and control circuitrycompares said selected portion of said plurality of data with one ormore reference values, when said selected portion of said plurality ofdata compares favorably with said one or more reference values, updatesa data log with said selected portion of said plurality of data, andwhen said selected portion of said plurality of data comparesunfavorably with said one or more reference values, compares saidselected portion of said plurality of data with one or more valueswithin said data log, and provides a notice signal as one of said one ormore outgoing electrical signals when said selected portion of saidplurality of data compares unfavorably with said one or more data logvalues.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said one or more outgoingelectrical signals comprises a plurality of outgoing electrical signals;said one or more characteristics comprises a plurality ofcharacteristics; and each one of said plurality of sequential outgoingelectrical signals corresponds to at least a portion of a respective oneof said plurality of characteristics.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein said plurality of outgoing electrical signals comprises aplurality of sequential outgoing electrical signals.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said one or more outgoing electrical signalsselectively correspond to said first portion of said plurality of data.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more outgoingelectrical signals selectively correspond to said second portion of saidplurality of data.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said one ormore wireless beacon signals comprises a plurality of wireless beaconsignals; and each one of at least a portion of said plurality ofwireless signal transceivers transmits said one or more respectivewireless response signals following reception of a respective portion ofsaid plurality of wireless beacon signals.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein said one or more respective wireless response signals comprisesa plurality of wireless response signals.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said plurality of wireless response signals comprises aplurality of sequential wireless response signals.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein: said one or more wireless beacon signals comprises aplurality of sequential wireless beacon signals; and each one of atleast a portion of said plurality of wireless signal transceiverstransmits said one or more respective wireless response signals within arespective time interval following reception of a respective one of saidplurality of sequential wireless beacon signals.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein said one or more respective wireless response signalscomprises a plurality of wireless response signals.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein said plurality of wireless response signals comprisesa plurality of sequential wireless response signals.
 12. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said at least one signal transducer is furthercoupled to said memory circuitry and said data collection circuitry, andis further responsive to said one or more wireless beacon signals byproviding DC power for said at least one signal transducer, saidprocessing and control circuitry, said memory circuitry and said datacollection circuitry.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising aDC power source coupled to said at least one signal transducer, saidprocessing and control circuitry, said memory circuitry and said datacollection circuitry.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said memorycircuitry comprises nonvolatile memory circuitry.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said data collection circuitry comprises a sensor. 16.An apparatus including an ad hoc wireless sensor data network formonitoring one or more selected environmental characteristics,comprising: one or more master wireless signal transceivers thatcommunicate via a plurality of wireless signals; and a plurality of adhoc wireless signal transceivers, each of which is disposed within arespective portion of a selected environment, that communicates withsaid one or more master wireless signal transceivers via said pluralityof wireless signals; wherein: said plurality of ad hoc wireless signaltransceivers, in at least partial response to a plurality of respectivesensor signals, transmits a plurality of respective ad hoc wirelesssignals as at least a portion of said plurality of wireless signals andselectively corresponding to at least one of one or more characteristicsof said selected environment; said one or more master wireless signaltransceivers, responsive to reception of said plurality of respective adhoc wireless signals, dynamically determine an actual location of atleast one of said plurality of ad hoc wireless signal transceivers in arespective spatial relation to at least one of said one or more masterwireless signal transceivers; each one of said plurality of ad hocwireless signal transceivers includes at least one signal transducer toconvert one or more of said plurality of wireless signals at least inpart to one or more corresponding incoming electrical signals, and toconvert one or more outgoing electrical signals at least in part to oneor more wireless response signals, processing and control circuitrycoupled to said at least one signal transducer and responsive to saidone or more incoming electrical signals by selectively processing atleast a portion of said one or more incoming electrical signals and atleast a selected portion of a plurality of data, providing a pluralityof control signals, and providing said one or more outgoing electricalsignals, memory circuitry coupled to at least said processing andcontrol circuitry and responsive to at least a first portion of saidplurality of control signals by storing at least a first portion of saidplurality of data and providing at least a second portion of saidplurality of data, and data collection circuitry coupled to at leastsaid processing and control circuitry and responsive to at least asecond portion of said plurality of control signals and at least onesensor signal corresponding to one or more characteristics of saidrespective portion of said selected environment by providing said firstportion of said plurality of data; said one or more outgoing electricalsignals selectively correspond to at least one of said one or morecharacteristics; and said processing and control circuitry: comparessaid selected portion of said plurality of data with one or morereference values; when said selected portion of said plurality of datacompares favorably with said one or more reference values, updates adata log with said selected portion of said plurality of data; and whensaid selected portion of said plurality of data compares unfavorablywith said one or more reference values, compares said selected portionof said plurality of data with one or more values within said data log,and provides a notice signal as one of said one or more outgoingelectrical signals when said selected portion of said plurality of datacompares unfavorably with said one or more data log values.
 17. Anapparatus including an ad hoc wireless sensor data network formonitoring one or more selected environmental characteristics,comprising: one or more master wireless signal transceivers thatcommunicate via a plurality of wireless signals; and a plurality of adhoc wireless signal transceivers, each of which is disposed within arespective portion of a selected environment, that communicates withsaid one or more master wireless signal transceivers via said pluralityof wireless signals; wherein: said plurality of ad hoc wireless signaltransceivers, in at least partial response to a plurality of respectivesensor signals, transmits a plurality of respective ad hoc wirelesssignals as at least a portion of said plurality of wireless signals andselectively corresponding to at least one of said one or morecharacteristics; said one or more master wireless signal transceivers,responsive to reception of said plurality of respective ad hoc wirelesssignals, dynamically determine an actual location of at least one ofsaid plurality of ad hoc wireless signal transceivers in a respectivespatial relation to at least another one of said plurality of ad hocwireless signal transceivers; each one of said plurality of ad hocwireless signal transceivers includes at least one signal transducer toconvert one or more of said plurality of wireless signals at least inpart to one or more corresponding incoming electrical signals, and toconvert one or more outgoing electrical signals at least in part to oneor more wireless response signals, processing and control circuitrycoupled to said at least one signal transducer and responsive to saidone or more incoming electrical signals by selectively processing atleast a portion of said one or more incoming electrical signals and atleast a selected portion of a plurality of data, providing a pluralityof control signals, and providing said one or more outgoing electricalsignals, memory circuitry coupled to at least said processing andcontrol circuitry and responsive to at least a first portion of saidplurality of control signals by storing at least a first portion of saidplurality of data and providing at least a second portion of saidplurality of data, and data collection circuitry coupled to at leastsaid processing and control circuitry and responsive to at least asecond portion of said plurality of control signals and at least onesensor signal corresponding to one or more characteristics of saidrespective portion of said selected environment by providing said firstportion of said plurality of data; said one or more outgoing electricalsignals selectively correspond to at least one of said one or morecharacteristics; and said processing and control circuitry: comparessaid selected portion of said plurality of data with one or morereference values; when said selected portion of said plurality of datacompares favorably with said one or more reference values, updates adata log with said selected portion of said plurality of data; and whensaid selected portion of said plurality of data compares unfavorablywith said one or more reference values, compares said selected portionof said plurality of data with one or more values within said data log,and provides a notice signal as one of said one or more outgoingelectrical signals when said selected portion of said plurality of datacompares unfavorably with said one or more data log values.